Colour Me Happy! - By Brandi Hofer Studios

Art isn’t about perfection. It’s about surviving the chaos with humour and showing up again.
By far the most hilarious episode we’ve ever recorded (right up there with Jann Arden), this conversation had our cheeks hurting from laughing.
We’re joined by art educator Jamie Hamilton aka heymamapaints, who we first met after she took our portrait class, and quickly realized she was our kind of human.
We dive headfirst into major art fails, unforgettable classroom moments (yes, someone once mixed hand sanitizer with Model Magic 😳), the mysterious obsession with white glue on everything, and all the things no one warns you about when you decide to become an artist or teach art.
But underneath the laughter are solid art tips, permission to loosen your grip on perfection, and a reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do — in art and in life — is laugh, pivot, and keep going.
Because life is messy. Art is messy. At least we have our artist friends.

1. Not every “mistake” is a failure — some are just future stories.
If it didn’t work, congratulations: you’re officially experimenting. Learn, laugh, and move on without letting it shut you down.
2. Humour is a creative survival skill.
When things go sideways (in the studio or in life), a sense of humour keeps you creating instead of quitting.

Being creative means you can pretty much do anything! Your brain is wired with problem-solving superpowers. The magic happens when you stop waiting and start creating! - Brandi 

This week on Colour Me Happy Podcast  What if being creative means you’re actually equipped to do anything? In this episode of Colour Me Happy, Brandi Hofer sits down with artist Tracy Verdugo to talk about the real superpower creatives carry: creative problem-solving.
Together, they unpack the challenge of juggling endless ideas, letting go of traditional “art rules,” and choosing process and empowerment over outcome-driven expectations. This conversation is a reminder that no one is coming to knock on your door with permission or opportunity—you create it yourself.
By thinking outside the box, making bold moves, and leaning into community and connection, creatives can build momentum, confidence, and a practice that truly feels like home. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment, this is your sign to get going.
Takeaway Tips:
Create the opportunity! Don’t wait for it.Try unconventional approaches in your art practice, pitch your own ideas, start the project, send the message. Momentum comes from action, not permission.
Connection is your creative best friend.Reach out, find your people, build community. Creativity thrives when it’s shared, supported, and celebrated together.

Self-love isn’t selfish—it’s how we remember who we are and give ourselves permission to shine.
Local business owner and founder of Power of Pink, Kim Newsted, joins me on the Colour Me Happy podcast for a conversation every woman needs to hear.
This episode is an invitation to refocus on your power, your goals, your wants, your needs, and your health—without guilt. Kim reminds us that when we truly take care of ourselves, the right people, opportunities, and energy naturally begin to flow into our lives.
This event (and this conversation) is about changing the narrative. It’s a reminder that women deserve to shine, recharge, and step fully into their power. When we reclaim our sparkly pink, we don’t dim others—we light the way.
If you’re craving inspiration, alignment, and permission to put yourself back on the list, this one’s for you.
Focus inward first.
When you get clear on what you want and need, everything around you begins to align more effortlessly.

Self-care creates ripple effects.
Taking care of yourself isn’t indulgent—it’s how you show up stronger, brighter, and more present for everyone else.

Ticket HERE - don’t miss it!

“Sometimes art isn’t about building a career—it’s about holding onto the part of you that’s still yours.”
Enjoy this candid and deeply relatable conversation with two Canadian artists as we talk honestly about creativity, motherhood, imposter syndrome, and the messy middle of following a dream you love.
Emma Jane Lefebvre of EmJ Watercolour Studio shares how her art practice began in the margins of motherhood. Painting during nap times because she needed something that was just for her. What started without any plan to become a career slowly evolved as she began sharing what she knew, filming watercolour tutorials while her son slept (and sometimes woke up mid-intro—something longtime viewers will recognize).
We share practical, budget-friendly art supply tips, including ways to reuse “failed” paintings and give yourself permission to experiment without judgment.
This episode is a reminder that even when it’s hard, you can figure it out, one small moment at a time.

Create in the margins—those moments matter.
Nap times, early mornings, and stolen minutes count. You don’t need more time; you need permission.

Take the pressure off your materials.
Cut expensive paper into smaller pieces, keep a judgment-free sketchbook, and reuse “bad art” as abstract backgrounds or collage fodder. Nothing is wasted.

You don’t need the whole plan. You just need the courage to begin—and the right people around you. - Brandi
What if that creative dream you’ve been quietly carrying for decades isn’t too late… but right on time?
Catherine Rains is back on the Colour Me Happy podcast, and this conversation is a powerful reminder that creativity doesn’t run on a deadline. Catherine shares how she spent years thinking about her creative dream—and how, at 50, she finally decided to go for it without knowing exactly how it would unfold.

After transitioning from a corporate career into full-time art in her late 50s, Catherine opens up about the very real four-year struggle to make income from her work, the turning point that came from hiring a coach, and how surrounding herself with a creative community changed everything.

We also talk collage, creative retreats, the joy of “trash raccoon” collecting, women traveling solo, and why these experiences feel like such a gift to women craving connection, creativity, and courage.

If you’ve ever thought “maybe someday” about your art—this episode is your nudge.

2 Takeaway Tips
You don’t have to know the how—just honour the pull.
Creative dreams don’t disappear. If they keep returning, they’re asking for your attention.

Growth accelerates when you stop doing it alone.
A coach and a creative community can fast-track clarity, confidence, and momentum—especially in a creative career transition.

👉 Be sure to check out Catherine’s collage course and her free creative offer on her website.